Texas State University-San Marcos

Geography 4427
Advanced Geographic Information Systems II
  - Spring 2010 -

Geography 4427, Advanced GIS II is the capstone undergraduate GIS course at Texas State University-San Marcos.  In this course students worked as teams on real-world GIS projects. These projects were designed and conducted by the students under the direction of Yongmei Lu and Jay Parsons. This course helps students develop and demonstrate competence in applying GIS techniques to actual geographic questions. Click on the links below

	Texas Foundation for Identifying Species Habitats (TxFISH) worked with Texas Natural History Collections to create a geodatabase containing all information on freshwater fish in Texas. TxFISH also took the gathered information to create land use layers for the specific area that can be easily used by the Fishes of Texas Project. These layers were then used to create suitablility models for 3 types of fish in order to compare the results with that of the suitability model program MAXENT that TNHC uses.
	In association with the Lower Colorado River Authority, GeoCats Solutions assisted the City of Martindale in the creation of their Comprehensive Plan by providing an asset inventory and development of a GIS database. The project focused on the housing, land use, streets and thoroughfares, and storm water drainage assets.
	Collaborating with Texas State University, Evolved Geospatial Planning (E.G.P.) has created a conceptual layout plan for the Texas STAR Park. The conceptual layout was derived scientifically using GIS spatial analysis tools. Included in the conceptual layout are buildings, drainage system, roads, parking and sidewalks.
	The implementation of a statewide GIS for LWCs and Swift Water Rescues (SWRs) to identify high risk areas would provide the Texas Flash Flood Coalition (TFFC) and other Texas agencies with a better understanding of the relationship between the number and locations of these sites and present spatial resources that can be used to prevent future deaths and injuries related to flash floods. Elite Water Rescue Prevention Consultants will create this GIS containing both documented and potential LWC sites as well as SWRs reported in 2007. Once these elements are in the GIS, spatial and temporal correlations can be made and more complex analysis can be done to build upon this foundation by further elucidating connections and clarifying spatial relationships needed by the TFFC.
	Texas Hydrological Innovations is primarily concerned with the management of fresh water resources in Texas.  The ever expanding popluation in the state is threateing our natural springs.  With this project, we aim to make people more knowledgeable about these natural wonders and provide a means for higher efficiency in freshwater management.